To think smears hurt less the more you exercise?

Mine have never hurt so far and I don't really exercise. I always want to say that on these threads because there will be people reading who've never had a smear test, and I do worry they could be scared off. Everyone's experience matters but there will be a strong bias of replies on any thread like this. It matters MUCH more to people who have had painful smears.

I just can't get over the fact that people are experiencing this and yet the NHS will bin the vast majority of our samples without looking at the cells. My smear is due and I am very inclined to get a mail order HPV test instead. Does anyone have any data on the benefit of the visual check part of the procedure for HPV negative women?

I have a tilted uterus too, and every smear test is a living nightmare. Once they gave p and I had to go back 6 weeks later, and the last one I was in there over an hour with 3 different nurses trying to find my cervix 😭. Was in agony the whole time, and I'm really not a wimp. One of them even had the audacity to comment on "how the hell I managed to conceive two children" because I clearly "wasn't normal", which added to the stress of it all. Ive been getting reminders for a year now, and I know it's stupid, but I just keep putting it off, because with me, it's never the pain free, 5 minute experience others have.

Coincidence, theyve never hurt me, and i dont really exercise beyond walking the dog.

They were slightly unpleasant until I got to my late fifties, then they were excruciating. An age thing, not an exercise thing, at least for me.

I have a tilted cervix; had a traumatic birth where I had a PPH following a poorly executed manual placenta removal and a history of violent sexual assault which means that I naturally tense up with utter fear when having something cold and unwanted inserted into my vagina.

Doubt yoga would deal with alot of that, tbh.

Now it’s routine in Canada- you’re asked when you’re due whether you want a home one or go get it done in doctors office.

OP I think you are getting the picture. No. Exercise has no impact on the discomfort of a smear

I think it depends on the practitioner. One was lovely and gentle and then the next time I had one a different woman seemed to be in a bad mood and was really rough with me.

No not at all.

I was super fit as a young woman and it still hurt then and now

I disagree. I’ve been exercising regularly for decades. To me, it depends on who’s doing it- I’ve had people do it and I barely feel anything; and some when they do it hurts for days after.

I exercise more than I ever did but my smears have become increasingly uncomfortable as I age

I don't find that smears hurt, they are unpleasant but it's more the breach of personal space. I haven't exercised regularly for 8 years so I see no link to that.

i think that's nonsense. I don't exercise and I don't think smears are painful uncomfortable at all

Mine are difficult and uncomfortable because I have a tilted uterus and apparently this is extremely common. I don't think exercise would help me!

I think it really varies (the "discomfort") depending on the practitioner. Honestly, most are absolutely shit at doing the procedure.

Most women only have a smear once every 3 years so there will be dozens of variables at play. Emotional state, hormonal state, childbirth,any gynae issues, weight, previous trauma and lots more. So maybe exercise helps with the ability to focus on a particular body part for relaxation but it would be difficult to pin down.

Im getting on so have had a good few smears and for me it has always been the practitioner that made the difference and yes, there can be a significant difference.

Unfortunately as you get older and produce less oestrogen smears and could changes can become more painful though this can be mitigated by a great practitioner.

For those on yearly or more frequent smear programmes I imagine that stress would play a significant part in the experience.

Smear test can get more painful as we get older

I think this is probably true. The last smear test I went for was a disaster - after 3 failed attempts to get the sample I told the nurse I'd had enough and she was understanding about that. It hurt! Not sure why she couldn't get the sample.

Smear test can get more painful as we get older. I don't want to wish ill on anyone, but don't dismiss people talking about the pain until you've been te other side of the menopause for a few years!
Vaginal atrophy, dryness, thinner skin... it's physical ageing, regardless of how fit you might be.

I've had 2 smears in my life, the first was absolutely fine and second was terrible.

I think it was all to do with the nurse's technique to be honest. She made me bleed which didn't happen with the first one, and definitely wasnt menstrual blood. Both smears came back normal so nothing was wrong. And now I don't know what to expect for next time as had two completely different experiences.

I exercise a lot and they've always been painful except for the one time I had a very kind and patient nurse do it. She also used a smaller speculum and it was warm. She also didn't just shove it in there and crank it open while completely ignoring me. I'd argue that the person doing it has a bigger effect than the amount of exercise you do.

I’ve never had a smear test that hurt. They aren’t a ton of fun, but they have never been painful either, and always over in less then a minute. Perhaps exercise helps as a general way of chilling the mind out a bit, which I’m sure for some, is the cause of some of the angst of a smear test.

Same! Last one was definitely painful. I do have a retroverted uterus and she was struggling to find the cervix. I'm guessing things may have shifted around over time to make it harder to find.

I have always found smears extremely uncomfortable but for my last one the nurse said she was going to use a smaller speculum and it was night and day to previous smears. I actually asked is that it finished as I was waiting on the pain. So my advice whether you exercise or not is to ask for the smaller speculum.

I’ve never felt them tbh.